29 December 2008, 19:00
Tskhinvali: Georgia accumulates troops on the border with South Ossetia
Georgian authorities accumulate armored troops at the border with South Ossetia, reports the press-service of the South Ossetia Ministry of Defense.
The "Caucasian Knot" reported earlier that the South Ossetia Ministry of Defense had claimed special troops of the Georgian Ministry of Interior were deployed in Ditsi on December 27. In order to prevent provocations from Georgia, South Ossetia authorities strengthened their posts near the border. In its turn, the Georgian Ministry of Interior refuted the information coming from South Ossetia.
"According to the operational information, Georgia relocated 28 tanks to the town of Gori where a tank battalion is located. In the village of Nikozi, close to South Ossetia border, the appearance of "Cobra" armored personnel carriers was registered", cites the "Interfax" the today's report by the South Ossetia Ministry of Defense.
The EU mission of observers also expresses its concern about the deployment by Georgian police of "Cobra" armored personnel carriers on the territories close to administrative units of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This has been reported to the "Novosti-Gruzia" at the press-service of the EU mission of observers.
In connection with the deployment of armored cars, Hays-Jorg Khaber, head of the mission, recommended the following to the Georgian authorities: "All deployed "Cobra" transport facilities must at least carry marks of police cars".
Meanwhile, the Georgian MoI refutes Tskhinvali claims that 28 tanks have been brought to the territory of the tank battalion in Gori.
"This information is far from being true because, at present, dwelling houses are under construction at the place of former location of the tank battalion in Gori", stated Vladimir Dzhugheli, chief of Shida Kartli region police, to the journalists, reports "Interfax".
"As regards to the police cars "Cobra", indeed, they have been patrolling the area of police posts in Tskhinval region for several months and all sides in the conflict have long been informed about them", said Dzhugheli.
